As I’ve been following the public discourse on issues concerning the Municipality of Chania and beyond, I’ve decided to periodically share information I have so that residents can form a well-rounded view.

Legislative and judicial power belong entirely to the state. Executive power encompasses both the central government and local government, which, however, merely carries out what others legislate, whether it agrees or not…

The definition of “local government” is encapsulated in the word itself. Throughout Europe, local governments have the tools to govern largely on their own. In Greece, it depends on decisions made by the central government, which are usually taken without its involvement and, instead of solving problems, create additional ones.

Understaffing, underfunding, the abolition of legal entities (School Committees, KEPEDIX-KAM, DOKOIP), and new levies, such as the waste disposal fee, are just a few of the central government’s decisions that create enormous problems for municipalities.

My first point concerns the expression “the mayor is boosting the hotel industry.” There is a great deal of discussion about “hotelization,” the carrying capacity of infrastructure, and “overtourism,” especially in Chania.

Unfortunately, our country now relies solely on tourism as the main pillar of its economy. The primary sector is on its last legs, and small-scale farming and cottage industries are faltering.

When it comes to investments in environmentally sensitive areas, the municipality’s main tool is its opinion on the environmental impact study, which is forwarded to a higher level of administration, which ultimately makes the decision. The law now permits, under certain conditions, hotels even in Natura areas.

There are examples where the Chania City Council issued a negative opinion, yet the permits were granted as usual by the ministries. Just a few days ago, the Regional Environment Committee approved approximately 2,000 new hotel beds on the island in a single day. And it is examining the legality of this as well.

This is the reality behind the simplistic statement “the mayor is pulling up the hotels.”

The Local Government’s Key Tool

One key tool at the disposal of local government that could curb uncontrolled “hotelization” is urban planning. The General Urban Plan can establish limits and rules. A prime example is Kasteli Hill, where, following a decision by the City Council, the area was designated as a public benefit zone.

Let me remind you that, after decades of debate, in the summer of 2023 the Municipality of Chania submitted a comprehensive General Urban Plan for approval by the central government. After ten months without approval, they themselves abolished the General Urban Plans. The transition to Local Urban Plans sets us back years and delays the implementation of restrictions. Could it be that, after all, the limits and rules aren’t convenient…?

Small Property Owners and Large Investments

Another significant change concerns off-plan construction, particularly for properties smaller than four stremmata. Small landowners have seen the potential to develop their property drastically limited, while conditions are being created that allow for the consolidation of larger tracts of land for major tourism investments. Changes to settlement boundaries are also causing serious problems and uncertainty for thousands of landowners.

And all of these are decisions made by the central government, not by local government.

Who ultimately pays for the infrastructure?

There isn’t enough government funding for the infrastructure needed by citizens and the millions of visitors. Every new tourism investment puts greater strain on the road network, water supply, sewage system, waste management, public spaces, and a city’s infrastructure as a whole.

The projects we’ve carried out as the Municipality of Chania in recent years have relied heavily on European funding and programs that have now come to an end, such as the Recovery Fund. I find it hard to imagine what will happen from here on out…

The implementation of urban plans (road construction, sidewalks, public spaces), utility networks, asphalt paving, and a host of other projects require billions of euros. The contributions for urban planning projects—which, once again, are paid for by the citizens—are very small, as is the approximately 1.4 million euros in regular funding that the municipality receives annually from the central government for projects (SATA).

In summary, funding and legislation are directed—without limits or rules—toward large-scale investments, and local government is scrambling to keep up, with understaffing and underfunding acting as major obstacles. This is a political choice, not a mistake…